(Greek mythology) goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology

ouranos

(Greek mythology) god of the heavens

orpheus

Son of Calliope and the Thracian King.Poet and musician. Bought Eurydice's life back from hades with music, but looked back and lost her

pegasus

(Greek mythology) immortal winged horse that sprang from the blood of the slain Medusa

bellerophon

(Greek mythology) a mythical hero of Corinth who performed miracles on the winged horse Pegasus (especially killing the monster Chimera)

prometheus

(Greek mythology) the Titan who stole fire from Olympus and gave it to mankind

epimetheus

(Greek mythology) brother of Prometheus

atalanta

Discarded by her father, she is raised by a bear, and she helped kill the Calydonian Boar, Marries the first man who can beat her in a footrace. He cheated and was helped by Aphrodite

jason

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

medea

(Greek mythology) a princess of Colchis who aided Jason in taking the Golden Fleece from her father

hercules

(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength

europa

Zeus fell in love with her and he disguised himself as a bull; lived in Crete together

theseus

(Greek mythology) a hero and king of Athens who was noted for his many great deeds: killed Procrustes and the Minotaur and defeated the Amazons and united Attica

ariadne

daughter of King Minos; fell in love with Theseus and promised to help him destroy the Minotaur if he would marry her; never did get married

medusa

(Greek mythology) a woman transformed into a Gorgon by Athena

dante

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

virgil

greatest poet of the Golden Age, called the "Homer of Rome" because the Iliad and the Odyssey served as models for his epic, the Aeneid; focus on Patriotism; it took 10 years to write

beatrice

aids Dante's journey by asking an angel to find Virgil and guide Dante through Hell; perhaps a representation of spiritual love; sent by God with the prayers of the Virgin Mary, Saint Lucia, and Rachel

charon

(Greek mythology) the ferryman who brought the souls of the dead across the river Styx or the river Acheron to Hades

lucifer

rebel archangel; Satan

judas

(New Testament) the Apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver

brutus

statesman of ancient Rome who (with Cassius) led a conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar (85-42 BC)

cassius

prime mover in the conspiracy against Julius Caesar (died in 42 BC)

cerberus

(Greek mythology) 3-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades

chiron

The centaur who trained Hercules. He was the teacher of many Greek heroes and when he died, Zeus placed him among the stars as the constellation Sagittarius. He also wasn't mean and nasty like most centaurs.

francesca and paolo

These two were guilty of a sin of lust; they had an affair and were both murdered by Giovani (the woman's husband and man's brother)

adam

The first human, the father of our race, and, along with his wife Eve, the caretaker of the Garden of Eden. Adam is grateful and obedient to God, but falls from grace when Eve convinces him to join her in the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

eve

The first woman and the mother of mankind. Eve was made from a rib taken from Adam's side. Because she was made from Adam and for Adam, she is subservient to him. She is also weaker than Adam, so Satan focuses his powers of temptation on her. He succeeds in getting her to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree despite God's command.

the lord

GOD

cain

(Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man

abel

(Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man

abraham

the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac

sarah

(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac

hagar

Sarah's servant, the mother of Ishmael

ishmael

(Old Testament) the son of Abraham who was cast out after the birth of Isaac

isaac

(Old Testament) the second patriarch

rebekah

(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau

esau

(Old Testament) the eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac

jacob

(Old Testament) son of Isaac

leah

Older sister of Rebecca who Jacob is tricked into sleeping with and marries

rachel

(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

benjamin

(Old Testament) the youngest and best-loved son of Jacob and Rachel and one of the twelve forebears of the tribes of Israel

joseph

(New Testament) husband of Mary and (in Christian belief) the foster father of Jesus

reuben

(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel

romeo

The son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague.

juliet

The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet.

tybalt

A Capulet, Juliet's cousin on her mother's side. Vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his sword when he feels his pride has been injured. Once drawn, his sword is something to be feared. He loathes Montagues.

benvolio

Montague's nephew, Romeo's cousin and thoughtful friend, he makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public places, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet.

friar lawrence

A Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civic-minded, a proponent of moderation, and always ready with a plan, Friar Lawrence secretly marries the impassioned lovers in hopes that the union might eventually bring peace to Verona. As well as being a Catholic holy man, Friar Lawrence is also an expert in the use of seemingly mystical potions and herbs.

mercutio

A kinsman to the Prince, and Romeo's close friend. One of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare's plays, Mercutio overflows with imagination, wit, and, at times, a strange, biting satire and brooding fervor. Mercutio loves wordplay, especially sexual double entendres. He can be quite hotheaded, and hates people who are affected, pretentious, or obsessed with the latest fashions. He finds Romeo's romanticized ideas about love tiresome, and tries to convince Romeo to view love as a simple matter of sexual appetite.

lord and lady capulet

Juliet's parents, leaders of the Capulets.

lord and lady montague

Romeo's parents, leaders of the Montagues.

nurse

The caretaker of Juliet.

paris

A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. Once Capulet has promised him he can marry Juliet, he behaves very presumptuous toward, acting as if they are already married.

prince

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)